took keen hold, held up towards rear, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
held up towards rear, ridden on outside over 2f out, plugged on in own time
led ridden and headed 2f out, chased winner until over 1f out, no chance with leading duo, kept on gamely to hold 3rd
chased leading pair, went 2nd briefly under pressure over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
took keen hold in mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
always in rear, lost touch over 3f out, tailed off
mid-division on outside, headway 3f out, chased leaders over 2f out, hung right to rails and led 2f out, driven and narrowly headed inside final furlong, soon edged left, rallied to lead again went left and bumped 2nd close home
took keen hold, chased leader until over 2f out, stayed well there under pressure until no extra inside final furlong
mid-division, good headway on inside over 3f out, switched left to outside over 2f out, chased winner and edged right over 1f out, took narrow lead inside final furlong, headed and bumped close home
held up towards rear, ridden and strugging in last pair 3f out, plugged on from over 1f out but never a factor
chased leading pair, pushed along 5f out, weakened over 3f out, eased when well beaten final 2f, tailed off
With five winners in the last 10 years in this Group 3 event, anything saddled by Mark Johnston has to be taken seriously. Eternal Heart, due to run in King George V Stakes yesterday, had Namibian back in third when completing his hat-trick at Musselburgh but the latter is 16lb better off here and should have no trouble reversing that form. Preference, however, is for the unexposed HALIFAX. The Halling colt looked a stayer in the making when beating useful pair Defence Of Duress and Samarkand in a Newcastle handicap over 1m4f last month and should relish a first try at 2m. Hawaafez has plenty of stamina in her pedigree while Regent Street has been holding his own in similar company so far this year and is another to consider along with Ittirad, successful in a maiden at Newcastle before finishing second under a big weight in a competitive handicap over 1m4f at York. Borug doesn't appear to have improved as a three-year-old, however, and was well beaten at Lingfield last time so Haydock winner Solar Sky may be the pick of the remainder.
Borug (USA) 11-1 (8-12) Held up in touch, ridden 3f out, no impression until stayed on near finish, 4th of 6, 7l behind Dordogne (8-12) at Lingfield 1m 3f 3yo Grp 3 (1) gf in May.
End Or Beginning 4-1 (8-12) Slowly into stride, soon recovered to press leader, ridden over 2f out, no extra well inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Miss Aix (8-7) at Newcastle 1m 2f mdn stks (5) gf.
Eternal Heart (IRE) 11-2 (8-5) Made all, ridden over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, kept on gamely, won at Musselburgh 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gf beating Mica Mika (7-13) by 1l, 9 ran.
Halifax (IRE) 4-1 (9-4) Held up in rear, pushed along over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, led over 1f out, kept on well, won at Newcastle 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gd in May beating Defence Of Duress (9-5) by 3 1/2l, 5 ran.
Ittirad (USA) 15-8fav (9-7) In touch on inside, headway to challenge over 2f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on, held towards finish, 2nd of 13, 1 1/4l behind Communicator (9-5) at York 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) gd in May.
L'hermitage (IRE) 16-1 (9-7) Held up mid-division, headway on inner over 2f out, led 1f out, headed narrowly inside final furlong, ralied to regain lead towards finish, won at Doncaster 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gf beating Romeo Montague (9-7) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Namibian (IRE) 7-1 (9-7) Held up mid-division, chased leaders after 4f, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Eternal Heart (8-5) at Musselburgh 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gf.
Regent Street (IRE) 12-1 (9-1) Led, ridden and challenged 2f out, soon headed, no extra over 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 3l behind Recital (9-4) at Leopardstown 1m 2f 3yo Grp 2 (1) gf in May.
Solar Sky 2-13fav (8-11) Always prominent, pushed along over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, carried left inside final furlong, soon led, stayed on, won at Haydock 1m 4f mdn stks (5) gd in May beating Sunday Bess (8-6) by 2 1/4l, 10 ran.
Hawaafez 7-2 (8-11) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on, one pace, 2nd of 5, 2 1/4l behind Glencadam Gold (9-1) at Newmarket 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gf in May.
Qushchi 20-1 (9-0) Held up behind, headway over 2f out, ridden to chase leader over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 3rd of 10, 2l behind Brown Panther (8-12) at Haydock 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gd in May.
Caravan Rolls On 2-1fav (9-9) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 7, 2 1/2l behind Pintrada (9-3) at Beverley 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gf in May.
